'God took another angel - that was you, Daniel...

HUNDREDS of heartbroken locals gathered in Donabate last night for a candlelit vigil and balloon release to honour the life of Daniel Aruebose.

- BY NICOLA DONNELLY in Donabate

Families, neighbours, and friends stood shoulder to shoulder as they prayed and paid tribute to the little boy who was secretly buried in marshy wasteland just 4km from the town's centre.

A framed photograph of a smiling little Daniel, when he was just a baby, surrounded by candles shaped into a heart, was placed on the grass as locals were invited to light candles at the shrine.

Daniel, who was three years old when he died, was secretly buried by his parents Maria Aruebose and Ciaran Dirrane, from the Aran Islands, Co Galway, in a shallow grave they dug with their own hands on marshy wasteland along the Portrane Road in Donabate, Co Dublin.

Mr Dirrane moved to Brazil after Daniel's death and set up a new life there while Ms Aruebose remained living in an apartment at The Gallery in Donabate.

Welcoming locals to the vigil, Rev Augustine Fokchet said: "We know the past few weeks have been trying moments for us here in Donabate as we remember baby Daniel.

"We continue to pray and we breathe a sign of relief that his remains have been found. We are still waiting for the final result."

Local parishioner Mary McLoughlin read out a poem dedicated to Daniel.

It read: "God took another angel, and the angel dear, was you. Angel wings upon the clouds, your body softly sleeps. Hush now little angel, no more tears you have to weep."

HEARTACHE

Songs including Arms of the Angels, You Raise Me Up and Amazing Grace were played over a loud speaker before Rev Augustine led a decade of the rosary.

After the vigil, several locals spoke to us of their heartache.